Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-21

; ECT A TOR A
Institutisn for the Education of the
Deaf and Dumb and the Bling.
/ We have received copy of the annual report
of the Institution for the education of the Deal
and Dumb and the Blind at Staunton, TO the
General Assembly for the fiscal year ending
September 30th, 1887. from which we are graft
fed to learn, as we felt assured was the case
that that benehcent State Institution is most
admirably conducted in every respect, and il
doing great work for the unfortunate classes
| for which that school is designed. 1t is good
and pleasant home as well as most excellen
school for Deaf and Dumb and Blind pupils,
where they are well educated, aud where even
the dumb are taught to speak. aud to under
stand what speaking persons say from the mo
| tion of their lips.
In communicating thereport ofthe Principal
Capt. Thos. 8. Doyle-ard accompanying
documents to the Governor of the State, the
President Of the Board Of visitors-Isaac Witt
EsQ.,-says:-
at is gratifying tome, as the President of the
Board Of Visitors. to be able to say that the Or
formed their whole duty, and that the educa-
| ton of the mutes and the lind of our State is
up 10 the standard OF any similar institution
In this ountry."
AS the Institution ha, now as many
pupils al it can accommods te. and as there are
applications in excess Of the capacity Of the
buildings to accommodate, the Principal asks
for. an appropriation Of $1,000 to erect addi-
tional buildings, and the Board Of Visitors re-
commend that such an approx ration for that
purpose be made.
Tho NUMBER Of pupils present during the
| fiscal year was 15S-mutes 50; bin d 60. Dis
charged during the year 24-mutes ID; blind II.
Actually present Oct. 18th, 1887, BIN utes IS;
blind 40.
The health OF the pupils during the year was
very good. there being not single case of sel1-
Gus sickness among them, and there was bue
one among the officers-that of Capt. Fr7nsten.
| the Steward, who was attacked in April with
inf1ammatory rh eumatism OF soviolent char
acter that. for a time. his recovery seemed i'm.
possible. After being sick for Jour months he
recovered sufficiently to resume his duties,
which he ia now discharging with his usual ef-
fciency. The finances of the Institution have
been well managed. On. October LIST. 1886. there
was a balance to credit of Board Of Visitors of
s634.18. Received from the State during the
fiscal year ending Oct. LIST, 1887. $4,000. Receiv-
ed from shops, tuition. &C., s6l7.7. making
disbursements during the year amounted to
s35 26l.N, leaving balance to the credit of the
Board of Visitors ofs99O.6S. to which, the Report
says, should be added that of the Prime ipaI
matchmaking a total balance in favor of the
Institution Of sl,799O9
That our readers may learn not only what ia
taught in this Institution, but how well 1t Is
taught. we give in full the Report of the Com
mittee that conducted the final examinations
Of the pupils as follows:-
STAUNToN, VA, June Srd, 1857,
To the President and Members of the Board of
Visitors:
Gentlemen The committee invited To coy1-
duct the examinations met at the Institute n
on the End instant, and, with the teachers of
the several classes, examined the pupils in
their various studies.
The chairman of the committee, with Mr.
Thomas Williamson. assisted in the examina-
ton of the blind pupils and of one class of deaf
mutes-at least, those who had been mutes I'M
til their skiifui teacher. Miss Grimm. unlocked
their tongues and gave them voice.
Mr.. Charles l.. Cooke IA former teacher of
mutes HIMSELF examined the classes in the
pended thereto. Examinations thor Uugh and
searching Were made in the following studies:
Spelling and defining. etymology. history of
United States and of France, geography, gram
mar. reading. arithmetic physiology. algebra.
natural philosophy, oil painting and drawing,
gave the pIainest evidence Of tboroug b training
on the part of The teachers and of real acquire
ment by the pupils.
tory. geography Caught with raised Inaps), and
grammar.
The higher branches of mathematics showed
a high order of teaching. One pupil, in partic
ular, solved complicated examples in algebra
in his head, and often faster than the pencil of
an examiner could record the different trans
formations OF the equations.
The classes in arithmetic did WELL and show
ed careful Instruction..
n Ia
and cities were located; routes were traced and
direction noted in a manner comparing favor
ably with similar work done by folk who can
see.
Your committee were especially impressed by
tlc by Miss Kerr's classes in history, geography
and grammar; by MIR. Ryan's. in geography
and etymoIogy; by those Of Professor Poyntz in
algebra, arithmetic and physiology.
Miss Grimm's classes IN articulation and lip
reading gave wonderful exhibition OF what
can be done by patience and unusual skill
Pupils, born d afand dumb, wrote, at dictation,
sentences on the board, and read them arti-
cnlately and distinctly enough TO be under
by the teacher and partly by the examiners,
the pupils watching the lips and expression OF
the one debating Eating, The writing Of the deaf
their spelling excellent, Notwithstanding the
fact that they are taught by observing the vary
ing shapes of the mouth and the movements of
| the lips and tongue and the positions OF the
organs of utterance Of their teacher, SO that
words of the same sound. though spelled diff
ferenty, would necessarily give the same
shape, position and movements-as, for exam
pie, the words "wop" and one"
Mr.. Euritt's graceful use of the sign language
was unintelliglble to two-thirds of your COM
mittce but was evidently well understood by
his pupils.
Specimens of oil painting by pupils of Profess
| sor Talbot Coleman did creoit to both teacher
and taught.
Miss Gay Trout's class in crayon drawing will
compare favorably with similar classes in 9TH
er first-rate schools.
That calisthenics are well taught is known
rry1-r, rfs,l
and movements of Miss Augusta Humans pu-
pile.
To sum up the school shows evidence of good
discipline, thorough teaching. and q degree of
development In the pupils rejecting great
credit upon them and their instructors Their
Wedge compares favorably with that found
in schools whose pupils have no natural ave
nues to learning closed. but have all their
faculties
lJust here the full committee desire to present
the report of Mr. Charles l.. Cooke, who :, as ap-
pointed q commttte of one to conduct the ex-
aminatiOns in the deaf mute.d spsrtment:
"Gentlemen: Your committee of one, ap-
pointed to examine the deaf mute department
takes pleasure in stating that. while he has
performed that duty upon other occasions. it
was never more pleasantly and agIeeably car
rled on than upon this.
"a thorough examination was made of all
the classes in each of their stutlies and he can
say. with perfect TRUTH that the advancement
OF the pupils was even greater than ne expect
full training on the part of the efficient corps OF
teachers.
ne WAS particularly lmp pressed Win tne per.
feet harmony existing between teachers and
pupils-an element very necessary to progress
and Improvement. It is unnecessary to go In
to details of the examinations; but he must
call special attention to the classes taught by
Messrs. Euritt. Yates. DR.. Turner, Bear. and
Miss Shacs leford; also. to the good order and
bearing of the pupils in all the classe-.
"The primary classes taught by Mr. Williams
and Mr.. Berkeley gave evidence of good train
ing and advancement, OF which future years
will show the outcome.
"Your committee must add one word in COM
mendation of the grading of the several classes.
1t was his pleasure to examine. two years ago,
the deaf mute department of this Institution,
and he finds very marked improvement in this
respect,
"(Signed) CHARLES L. COOKE"
The musical department has been under the
able and efficient control of Professor A. j.
Turner assisted in the vocal and Instrumental
Instruction by Mrs. Hammond. and in instru-
mental by Mr.. John G. Ryan. Their pupils
have made more than their usual progress dur.
ing the session just ending.
Your committee also examined the work
shops and saw specimens of the pupils actual
| work in shoemaking. printing and setting type.
| tailoring, carpentry comprising models OF
| HOUSES, bridges, and details in construction of
1 ntnoI r6